US20080097935A1
2008-04-24
11/973,557
2007-10-09
The Applicant has invented a business model to supply housing with telecommunication and internet services supplemented with education and career training.
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G06Q10/00 » CPC main
Administration; Management
G06Q99/00 » CPC further
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G06Q90/00 IPC
Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes, not involving significant data processing
The Applicant has invented a business model to supply housing with telecommunication and internet services supplemented with education and career training.
ii. BACKGROUNDThe need for affordable rentals grows critical nationwide, as gentrification in some neighborhoods and continued deterioration in others leads to the removal of vitally needed lower-cost rental housing. The need to accommodate new investment by housing the most vulnerable renters and providing training to increase resolve to bolster their earning capacity as well as their e-readiness to survive in today's digital era is crucial, and will only worsen in the years ahead.
Rather than following a pattern that exploits the poor, the Applicant pondered scenarios and considered the social impacts in which benefits may be enhanced on a widespread basis through the actions of government as well as private stakeholders. There has also been research and anecdotal evidence that gains in employment, education, and community development are the result of technology training, and internet access.
The invention of this business model addresses the needs for shelter, greater access to information technology along with the much needed training that will bring about the self-empowerment in becoming more and more—which is essential for societal and economic purposes.
iii. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONA. Buildings/Vehicles:
When obtaining a building or land, the user will typically follow the following scheme:
The user of the invention obtains vacant housing or land that is in need of repair and/or development. He builds new structures and rehabilitates older ones to make them habitable. The housing incorporates, within one or more of the walls, floors, ceilings, or roof, the hardware wiring and infrastructure along with telecommunication devices needed to supply power and internet access via computer, telephone and/or wireless systems.
Alternatively, the user may buy or rent a building or static structure, or land that is already habitable and modifies it to incorporate the technology equipment, wiring and infrastructure, and telecommunications devices described above.
When obtaining a vehicle or mobile structure, the user will typically follow the following scheme:
The user of the invention, will fit a motor vehicle, or a structure attached to same (e.g. a trailer, car, or truck) to incorporate the technology equipment, wiring and infrastructure, and telecommunications devices as described above.
B. Facilities:
The facilities used in the invention may be any static structure that is large enough to incorporate the technology equipment, wiring and infrastructure, and telecommunications devices described above. Kiosks, and free-standing booths may be facilities.
C. Individuals and Families:
The individuals and families who will acquire education and/or career training via use of this business model are typically individuals, parents with children, single-parent households, disabled persons, elderly persons, low-to-moderate income persons, and the like. Services are provided in exchange for federal subsidy, voucher payment, contribution, grant, and government-sponsored payment. Members may pro vide contributions towards their own support.
D. Training Centers:
At locations remote from the building, vehicles or facilities there will be training centers. These centers may have security guards and surveillance cameras with safeguarding equipment therein.
The user of the invention may lease, rent, purchase and/or franchise various types of establishments as community training centers. Among these types are churches, houses, schools, libraries, retail stores, warehouses, lamp posts, kiosks, buildings, commercial establishments, strip malls, and the like.
E. Education and Career Training:
The use of this business model provides educational, career-focused job training to individuals and families described above.
These individuals and families may also be provided matriculation and graduation services to empower them as they acquire marketable and/or self-sufficiency skills.
F. Information/Communication Systems:
The system that individuals and families will access using the business model of the invention, are designed to provide education, career training, self-empowerment, safety-filtered internet access, and the like.
Physically, these systems can employ one or more of the following (i.e. wireless platforms, network interface cards, telephone lines, local area network devices, microwave network, broadband, DSL, cable modem, radio & TV signals, satellite, cellular, and voice over internet protocol systems.
G. Technology Equipment Provided:
The user of the invention will typically equip one or more housing units with a thin client, a dummy terminal/monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This equipment is used to lessen the opportunity of theft, since once this equipment is unplugged from the housing unit—it has no meaning or value to a person who does not have access to the housing unit. This equipment is used to lessen the burden of maintenance and repair as these devices are not repaired, but replaced.
It is desirable to maximize the number of devices and communication means that can not be removed or tampered with. The maximum number of deices will depend upon the type of communication/information systems being made available to the members. For example, a connector, mouse, keypad and viewer/monitor may be the only devices that need to be physically present in the space in which the member lives and/or receives the education and/or training.
vi. ADVANTAGESThe user of the invention's model has several advantages; including the following:
1. A business model to supply housing, telecommunication, and internet services combined with educational and/or career training to individuals and families in need thereof including the following steps:
A. Obtaining a building, facility or vehicle capable of enclosing or serving as a physical support, housing or infrastructure platform for the devices used to supply telecommunication and internet services; and
B. Equipping the building, facility or vehicle with infrastructure, telecommunication devices, communications devices, hardware equipment, and other related services; and
C. Giving individuals and families that this business model serves access to the equipped building, facility or vehicle of Step B, so they will acquire education and/or career training using internet technologies, instructor-led classroom training, and hands-on training that help them become empowered, marketable, and/or self-sufficient.
2. The business model of claim 1 wherein one or more of the devices used in Step A is made available to the individuals or families in a way that makes the devices impossible to remove or tamper with.
3. The business model of claim 1 wherein the devices used in Step A involve a maximum number of devices that can not be removed or tampered with.